Posts in Category: Fire Department

Escondido, CA – Following the recent retirement of Chief Russ Knowles, Interim City Manager Jeffrey Epp has named Rick Vogt as the new Fire Chief for the City of Escondido.

Chief Vogt started with the City of Escondido in 2015 as the Division Chief for Training and EMS, and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations in 2016.

Chief Vogt’s career in fire services began over 30 years ago as a volunteer firefighter for the City of Palm Desert. He subsequently became a firefighter for the City of Temecula/Cal Fire, was appointed Station Captain for Riverside County/Cal Fire and served as Administrative and Field Battalion Chief for the City of San Marcos just prior to coming to the City of Escondido.

“Chief Vogt is the ideal candidate to continue the traditions of excellence, efficiency, integrity and outstanding public service that characterize the Escondido Fire Department,” said Interim City Manager Jeffrey Epp.

Chief Vogt will be focused on overseeing a smooth transition for the department, and maintaining its high standards of excellence in public safety and emergency services.

The Escondido Fire Department reports that the fire at the former Talone’s Meat Market at 559 N. Hale Avenue has been controlled. City Building officials have “red tagged” the building, declaring it to be unstable and extremely dangerous for anyone to enter. The primary concern for the scene now is safety and the property has been secured by the owner. An emergency demolition permit has been issued to the property owner and the work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 5.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There is no estimate as to when the investigation will be completed.

Escondido Fire officials are continuing to mop up after this morning’s fire at the abandoned Talone’s Meat Market at 559 N. Hale Avenue in Escondido. Power has been restored to the affected area. The Sprinter will be reopening shortly. A short section of Hale Avenue will remain closed between the railroad tracks and Tulip Street as the mop up continues.

The Police Department is optimistic that several trespassers who were feared to have been trapped in the building managed to escape, based on reported sightings of them. Fire officials will conduct a search on Friday to confirm no other persons were in the building. Until the structural integrity of the building is assured and the remaining hot spots are extinguished, no one will be permitted to enter the building.

Escondido Fire was supported by neighboring fire agencies from Carlsbad, Deer Springs, Oceanside, San Diego, San Marcos, Valley Center, and Vista. At the peak of the fire, over 96 firefighters were on scene.

Fire broke out this morning at the abandoned Talone’s Meat Market at 559 N. Hale Avenue in Escondido. The Escondido Fire Department was dispatched at 8:52 a.m. and found the fire had already broken through the roof. The four-alarm fire is still active and officials expect to remain on scene for at least another five hours.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area due to numerous road closures in the vicinity. The Sprinter Light Rail has been shut down between the Escondido Transit Center and the Nordahl Station. North County Transit District is providing bus services for customers between those two stations. San Diego Gas and Electric has also shut down power in the area which is affecting businesses located on Hale Avenue between Metcalf Avenue and Auto Park Way and from Hale Avenue south to Valley Parkway.

It is too early to determine the cause of the fire, but an investigation will get underway once it is safe for fire fighters to enter the building.

City Manager Graham Mitchell announced today that Deputy Fire Chief Russell Knowles has been named Fire Chief for the City of Escondido, effective June 5, 2016. Chief Knowles will succeed Fire Chief Mike Lowry who will retire on June 3 after almost 34 years with Escondido.

A twenty-five year veteran, Chief Knowles currently is responsible for the day-to-day details of running the Department including supervision of three Battalion Chiefs and the Training and EMS Division. Chief Knowles joined the Escondido Fire Department as a Firefighter 1991. He has risen through the ranks, working as a Firefighter Paramedic, Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief and Deputy Fire Chief.

Russ holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration from Cogswell Polytechnic College as well as an Associate’s Degree with a major in Public Fire Service. Russ served as the Chair of the North Zone Operations Chiefs and the North Zone liaison to the San Diego County Operations committee. He also has served as President for the Escondido Firefighter’s Association.

In making the announcement City Manager Graham Mitchell noted, “Chief Knowles will continue Escondido’s tradition of providing a highly professional level of medical and fire service. I look forward to his innovative perspective to service delivery.”

Commenting on the announcement, Jeff Sargis, President of the Escondido Fire Fighters Association, said, “On behalf of the Escondido Firefighters Association, I extend our congratulations to Chief Knowles on his promotion. I look forward to our future and believe the department and community will prosper under the leadership of Chief Knowles.”

The Escondido Fire Department and Palomar College Medic students will provide free blood pressure screenings to Escondido residents from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on February 11, 2016 at the following locations:

Escondido Public Library: 239 S Kalmia Street

Northgate Market: 606 N Escondido Boulevard

Silver Crest Senior Residence: 1303 Las Villas Way

Palomar YMCA: 1050 N. Broadway

This effort is part of the “Love Your Heart” campaign to empower Escondido residents with the right information to support long, healthy lives. Additional information can be found at: http://www.livewellsd.org/love-your-heart/

A Disaster Readiness/Winter Weather Workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Police and Fire Headquarters, 1163 N. Centre City Parkway.

The workshop will provide valuable information related to water issues and emergency preparedness. Greg Thomas of the Rincon del Diablo Water District will give an update on the drought. Alex Tardy from the National Weather Service will provide an update regarding El Nino and winter storms. Alicia Appel from the City of Escondido Utilities Department will speak about erosion protection, proper clearing of drainage structures and storm preparation. Jeff Murdock, from the Fire Department will discuss emergency preparedness, evacuations, and information resources.

This event is free but seating is limited. To reserve your seat, please call 760-745-5522. The workshop is co-sponsored by the City of Escondido’ Fire Department and Utilities Department, Rincon del Diablo Water District, and the National Weather Service.

A Disaster Readiness/Winter Weather Workshop will be held on Wednesday, October 28th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Police and Fire Headquarters, 1163 N. Centre City Parkway.

The workshop will provide valuable information related to water issues and emergency preparedness. Greg Thomas of the Rincon del Diablo Water District will give an update on the drought. Alex Tardy from the National Weather Service will provide an update regarding El Nino and Winter storms. Alicia Appel from the City of Escondido Utilities Department will speak about erosion protection, proper clearing of drainage structures and storm preparation. Jeff Murdock, from the Fire Department will discuss emergency preparedness, evacuations, and information resources.

This event is free but seating is limited. To reserve your seat, please call 760-745-5522. The workshop is co-sponsored by the City of Escondido’ Fire Department and Utilities Department, Rincon del Diablo Water District, and the National Weather Service.

Additional information about preparing for El Nino is available on the City’s website at https://www.escondido.org/El-Nino-Preparations.aspx.

The City of Escondido wants to make business owners aware of a recent scam regarding unsolicited fire inspections from individuals claiming to work for the fire department. Businesses in other cities as well as the City of Escondido have been victimized by individuals claiming to work for the fire department to conduct inspections. These individuals are dressed as fire department employees usually in a navy blue t-shirt with the word FIRE on the shirt.

The Escondido Fire Department does notuse private companies to inspect businesses and fire department personnel always leave a copy of the annual inspection form, which will have Escondido Fire Department at the top of the form.

Legitimate fire inspections are conducted by either Fire Suppression personnel from the fire stations or fire prevention personnel from Fire Administration. Escondido Fire Department personnel are always in an official fire department uniform with Escondido Fire Department badges, and carry a photo identification card. If you have any reason to doubt that the inspector conducting the fire inspection is an official fire department employee please contact the Escondido Fire Prevention Bureau at 760-839-5400.

The Escondido Fire Department advises local businesses to be aware of a scam involving bogus fire inspectors. Individuals are showing up at local businesses and claiming that the Fire Department sent them. They then walk around the premises for a visual inspection and give a bill to the business as they are completing the "inspection". Actual inspections by the Escondido Fire Department are conducted by the agency’s uniformed personnel. If there is a fee involved, the invoice will come from the City of Escondido.

If you think an inspection may be a scam, please call Escondido Fire Department at 760-839-5400.